Prosecutors of the National Aticorruption Directorate (DNA) also took note ex officio of other aspects regarding the Rise Project investigation, because there are pieces of evidence on committing several crimes assimilated to corruption.
"On 10 July 2017, anticorruption prosecutors took note ex officio regarding other aspects included in the journalistic investigation, that was published on 6 July 2017 (others than the ones mentioned in the release no. 690/VIII/3/ 7 July 2017), because of some evidence on committing several crimes assimilated to corruption. Currently the criminal prosecution has begun only related to the action (in rem). This stage does not imply formulating charges against one person, but it has the significance of establishing a procedural framework in which the first evidence can be gathered regarding a certain action," the Information and Public Relations Bureau of the DNA mentions in a reply sent to Agepres. more »

Former Minister of Economy in Grindeanu government, Mihai Tudose is the nominee proposed in the convention of the National Executive Committee (CExN) of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), reports Agerpress. more »

Romania's President Klaus Iohannis has sent a letter to leaders of parties and groups represented in Parliament, inviting them to consultations on Monday, June 26, at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace, in order to designate a candidate for the prime minister office....more »

The debates and the vote on the no confidence motion will take place next Wednesday, 21 June, starting with 11:00 am, the Chamber of Deputies informs in a press release. On Sunday, 18 June, the text of the censure motion called "Romania cannot be seized. We defend democracy and Romanians' vote" was read in front of the joint chambers of the Parliament. The document was initiated and signed by 223 PSD (Social Democratic Party, major at rule) and ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, minor at rule) deputies and senators, a release by the Chamber of Deputies informs.
...more »

Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu stated that the Executive doesn't intend to abandon the idea of enforcing household taxation, but he mentioned that the timing and manner in which the system will be enforced will be decided on following an analysis that is underway at the Finance Ministry.
"It's an analysis that the finance minister and others have to put forth. It won't be abandoned in any case. Following this analysis, we will chose very well the moment, to know the pluses, the minuses, what we have to do from the moment in which we are to implement this system," Grindeanu stated after attending a working meeting with the finance minister and the National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF) leadership....more »

The Cyberint National Centre, operating under the authority of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI), has successfully deflected a cyberattack attempt against a governmental institution of Romania. SRI says in a press statement that it conducted its action based on a notification from Romania's Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE).
According to SRI, the attempt most likely originated with an entity associated with the APT28 / Fancy Bear cybercrime ring....more »

President Klaus Iohannis declared that the first negotiation topic with the UK, in the Brexit context, is that regarding citizens and their rights, adding that he would get strongly involved in this process to make sure that the rights of Romanians living in the UK are respected.
He underscored that the discussions on this topic will be carried out by the EU27 in one single, unitary voice, in a team format....more »

Justice Minister Tudorel Toader declared that starting off procedures to dismiss from office the attorney general and the chief prosecutor with the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) is currently inopportune.
"Given the context, and after considering all constitutionality, legality and opportunity factors I have mentioned, (...) I believe that this is not an opportune time to start off the institutional mechanisms to dismiss from office the attorney general and the DNA chief prosecutor," Toader told a news conference quoted by Agerpress. ...more »

Chief Prosecutor of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) Laura Codruta Kovesi stated on Monday, after the meeting with Justice Minister Tudorel Toader that she wasn't requested to resign and she is not intending to resign.
"I wasn't requested to resign, I don't intend to resign, I don't have any reason to resign, the DNA did its job. It was a discussion about which I don't want to share many details, you will find out after this stage is completed," Laura Codruta Kovesi stated upon exiting the Justice Ministry....more »

Brigadier General Razvan Ionescu is the new first deputy to head of the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) Eduard Hellvig. According to SRI, Ionescu will take over beginning 24 March. SRI specifies that Razvan Ionescu is 45 and has a more than two-decade long experience in the SRI's operative work. The new first deputy of SRI is a graduate of the Physics Faculty of the University of Bucharest. ...more »